Global News - July 2007

< Back to Global News

Economic situation in Zimbabwe threatens animals

Tue 31 July 2007 12:00 UK — Africa

Wildlife experts are concerned that the current situation in Zimbabwe could put rare animals at increased risk of poaching.

Recently, the country's government closed all private abattoirs as part of action to try and curb inflation. However, the moves caused shortages of basic goods likes like meat.

The national wildlife authority warned on Friday (July 27th) that this situation could lead to more killing of rare animals as people try to feed themselves.

"We are concerned that the continued demand for meat now with our animals that are edible roaming our parks, we could be seeing a worse poaching situation," Edward Mbewe, spokesman for the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, explained to the national Herald newspaper.

While the southern African country is home to some of the continent's largest game reserves, the economic situation means that these are potentially under-funded and poorly protected.

Not only are the animals in the parks at threat from locals in search of food, but they are also often targeted by cross-border trophy hunters.

Inflation in Zimbabwe is currently running at close to 5,000 per cent and the government's attempts to curb this have simply caused the food shortages which have put these animals in danger.

< Back to Global News   |   Read IAR News

Read IAR News >